If Moreno Valley Mayor Tom Owings arrives at the federal courthouse in Riverside on Wednesday morning, will he be testifying to a grand jury on demand?

Moreno Valley Mayor Tom Owings leaves City Hall on Tuesday, April 30, after federal agents served a search warrant at his home. (KURT MILLER/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)

Because of the complex, largely secret nature of the grand jury process, that’s unlikely.

Owings remained in the media spotlight this week when he proclaimed that he would go to the Riverside federal courthouse Wednesday and “request that (the grand jury) immediately commence their interview with me” — even though he has not been subpoenaed.

A week after federal agents and Riverside County district attorney investigators raided the homes and offices of council members and developers as part of a corruption probe, Owings claimed that the grand jury was convening Wednesday.

That would be record pace.

Investigators who served search warrants last week were seen carrying out multiple boxes of documents as well as computers. It can take authorities months to analyze evidence and build a case before putting the information before a grand jury.

As former MorenoValley councilman Bill Batey said Tuesday, either the investigation into MorenoValley has been underway longer than anyone else has realized, or Owings is just grandstanding.

It’s also unclear how Owings got his information. Grand jury proceedings are confidential to protect the investigation, so only the people subpoenaed to testify — or anyone they tell about being subpoenaed — are aware.

The U.S. attorney’s office had no comment Tuesday about whether a grand jury investigation was underway or otherwise regarding Owings’ comments.

Owings said in a statement issued Monday, “I find it unusual that the Grand Jury has not yet asked for my testimony as Mayor … I will appear voluntarily, because I am anxious to respond to any and all questions, and to assist the Grand Jury in its important work.”

However, a federal court generally doesn’t usually take voluntary testimony.

If a grand jury has been convened, the results will not be disclosed until it issues an indictment or the case is closed.